THE 


47- 


or  TUE 

BOARD  OF  DIRIXTORS 


DOMESTIC  AND  FOREIGN 

MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 


or  THE 


PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCII 

IS  TOE 


UNITED  STATES 

OF  AMERICA, 


To  the  Members  of  the  said  Church.  • 

1 


Philadelphia,  Feb.  16,  1822. 


* k 


1 


( 

1 

/* 


\ 


ADDRESS,  &c. 


Brethren, 

We  respectfully  state  to  you,  that  we  have  entered  on  the  trust 
committed  to  us  by  the  late  General  Convention,  and  now  solicit 
your  benefactions  for  the  carrying  of  their  design  into  effect. 

We  refer,  for  a development  of  the  views  of  the  Convention, 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  Society,  to  be  appended  to  this  report; 
from  which  it  will  appear,  that  these  are  the  two  objects  of  Do- 
mestic and  Foreign  Missions. 

Had  no  other  than  the  former  been  attempted,  there  would 
have  been  a wide  range  for  the  display  of  zeal  and  of  endeavour. 
It  is  probably  known  to  those  who  will  be  the  readers  of  this  ad- 
dress, that  there  was  a time  within  the  memory  of  many  living, 
when,  in  consequence  of  the  troubles  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
concurring  with  the  want  of  the  means  of  continuing  the  ministry 
among  ourselves,  the  far  greater  number  of  our  congregations 
were  destitute  of  pastors;  and  indeed,  in  a state  approaching  to 
annihilation.  Although,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  there  has  been 
a gradual  revival  of  the  administration  of  the  ordinances;  yet,  to 
this  day,  in  the  Atlantic  states  there  are  numerous  districts,  in 
which  a considerable  proportion  of  the  people  is  episcopal,  while 
yet,  an  episcopal  ministry  is  unknown  among  them:  owing  part- 
ly to  the  circumstance,  that  the  number  of  the  ordained  is  un- 
equal to  the  demand;  but  principally  to  their  being  a scattered 
people,  not  likely  to  be  benefited  by  any  other  than  a missionary 
ministry;  until,  by  excitement  thus  made,  and  by  consequent  in- 
crease, the  inhabitants  shall  be  competent  to  the  supporting  of  a 


4 


ministry  of  their  own.  This  has  been  found,  in  many  instances, 
to  be  the  effect  of  the  occasional  visits  of  a zealous  niissionarv. 

It  adds  immensely  to  the  necessity  of  the  present  call  on  your 
beneficence,  that  while  the  active  members  of  our  church  have 
been  occupied  in  repairing  the  decayed  ways  and  renewing  the 
dilapidated  buildings  of  our  Zion,  new  prospects  have  been  open- 
ing on  them  westward,  in  immense  territories,  in  which  the 
church  is  to  be  reared,  if  at  all,  from  its  foundations.  It  has  been 
distressing  to  the  hearts  of  those  prominent  in  our  ecclesiastical 
concerns,  that  for  some  years  past  they  have  received  continual 
and  earnest  recpicsts  for  ministerial  supplies,  which  there  were  no 
means  of  meeting.  Some  aid  has  been  afforded.  It  has  been  very 
small;  but  the  thankfulness  with  which  it  was  received,  the  ex- 
citement consequent  on  it  among  those  destitute  members  of  our 
communion,  and  its  efficiency  beyond  proportion  to  what  ivas 
bestowed,  present  pleasing  presages  of  what  may  be  ex|)ected 
from  the  combined  energies  of  our  church  throughout  the  Union, 
prudently  directed,  and  sustained  by  the  liberality  of  its  members 
generally. 

VVe  stand  in  a relation  to  our  brethren  in  the  new  states,  not 
unlike  to  that  in  which,  before  the  revolution,  the  episcopal  popu- 
lation in  the  Atlantic  provinces  stood  to  their  parent  church  in 
England.  What  was  then  the  conduct  of  that  church,  towards  the 
forefathers  of  those  who  are  now  invited  to  imitate  them  in  their 
beneficence.^  It  was,  that  she  extended  her  fostering  care  to  her 
sons,  in  their  migration  to  the  then  uncultivated  wilderness  of  the 
new  world;  and  that  she  organized  a society,  in  which  the  pre- 
lates took  the  lead,  being  sustained  by  the  most  distinguished  of 
the  clergy  and  of  the  laity  over  the  whole  realm.  Although  their 
aids  were  discontinued  with  the  acknowledgment  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  this  countiy — a limitation  to  which  they  were  restricted 
by  the  conditions  of  their  charter,  yet,  the  good  achieved  by  them 
is  felt  in  its  consequences  to  the  present  day.  To  provinces  plant- 
ed by  members  of  the  established  church,  they  e.xtended  no  aid; 
nor  was  there  occasion  for  any,  there  being  j)rovision  made  in 
them  by  legislative  assessments.  But  in  the  provinces  in  which 
the  episcopal  portion  of  the  population  vvas  thin,  and  other  forms 
of  profession  prevalent;  we  should  at  this  time  be  destitute  of  the 
means  of  worshipping  Uod  agreeably  to  the  dictates  of  our  con- 
sciences, or  rather,  there  would  have  been  long  since  lost  all  the 
traces  of  the  peculiar  institutions  of  our  apostolic  church,  had  it 
not  been  lor  the  fostering  care  of  the  said  venerable  body,  and  for 
the  expense  to  which  the  members  of  our  communion  in  the  pa- 
rent land  voluntarily  subjected  themselves.  The  time  is  come, 
when  gratitude  and  honour,  in  concurrence  with  zeal  for  what 
we  conceive  to  be  the  truths  of  scripture,  urge  us  to  repay  the 
benefit;  not  to  the  bestowers  of  it,  who  neither  claim  nor  stand  in 


0 


Hcetl  of  a return;  but  by  the  supply  of  the  spiritual  wants  of  those 
who  have  migrated  from  oursoil,  asourloi  efatliers  migrated  from 
the  land  of  their  nativity;  and  wIk)  would  doubtless  have  been 
objects  of  the  bencticeiice  of  the  church  which  is  our  common  |>a- 
rent,  but  for  the  severance  which  has  taken  place  in  the  course  o( 
Divine  Providence. 

In  sending  forth  the  present  address,  we  derive  great  encourage- 
ment fi-om  the  recently  begun  exertions  of  another  society,  created 
with  a view  to  education  for  the  ministry,  llcrelofore,  the  want 
of  pecuniary  means  was  not  the  only  hindrance  to  the  sending  of 
missionaries  to  our  distant  brethren.  There  was  another  in  the 
scarcitv  of  ministers;  and  under  this  privation,  our  only  resource 
was  that  of  which  we  have  an  example  in  the  holy  Author  of  our 
religion — “ the  praying  of  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  would 
.send  forth  labourers  into  his  harvest  ” Within  these  few  years, 
there  was  projected  a plan,  whfl#»,  besides  advantage  to  the 
church  generally,  was  contemplated  as  likely  to  su|)ply  the  want 
now  deplored.  This  expectation  was  strengthened  by  the  satis- 
faction expressed  by  our  members  generally,  on  account  of  the 
projected  seminary.  Nevertheless,  and  although  there  have  been 
good  beginnings  of  a theological  education  under  able  professors, 
some  embarrassment  arose  from  a diversity  of  views  for  the  re- 
alizing of  the  expectation  of  the  public;  and  this  is  no  more  than 
was  natural,  because  of  the  partialities  resulting  from  local  and 
accidental  circumstances,  among  members  of  a communion  over 
so  wide  an  extent  of  country.  The  degree  of  harmony  in  w Inch 
this  diversity  became  absorbed  during  the  late  General  Conven- 
tion, is  a promising  presage  of  the  future  prosperity  of  the  newly  or- 
ganized seminary,  under  the  name  of  “ The  General  Theological 
Seminary  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States 
of  America.”  Among  its  benefits  we  anticipate,  as  not  the  least, 
its  supplying  of  ministers  to  states  which  had  not  risen  into  exist- 
ence when  this  church  was  organized;  the  immensely  increased 
population  of  which  has  added  proportionally  to  the  strength  and 
respectability  of  our  civil  Union;  and  ought  therefore  to  be  looked 
to,  for  an  extension  of  the  doctrines,  of  the  worship,  and  of  the 
discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  within  the  same 
bounds. 

While  we  represent  in  this  important  point  of  view  the  wants 
of  the  members  of  our  own  church,  we  do  not  overlook  the  other 
branch  of  our  trust;  from  w'hich  it  may  be  gathered,  that  the  Con- 
vention contemplated  the  giving  of  a beginning  to  efforts  simulta- 
neous with  those  of  other  denominations  of  Christians,  for  the  ex- 
tending of  the  light  of  the  Gospel  to  the  benighted  heathen.  There 
is  no  fact  more  remarkable  on  the  face  of  the  Bible,  than  that  the 
Gospel  is  to  be  preached  to  all  nations:  this  having  been  an- 
nounced by  the  Saviour  in  person,  and  by  bis  apostles  after  his 


r 


6 


crucifixion.  Judging  from  what  we  know  of  the  course  of  Provi- 
dence, operating  through  the  intervention  of  second  causes,  w'e 
are  led  to  conclude,  that  these  predictions  will  be  fulfilled  by  hu- 
man endeavours,  under  the  government  of  divine  grace. 

Here  opens  on  us  a subject  which  cannot  be  contemplated 
without  grief,  on  account  of  the  inefficiency  of  measures  formerly 
pursued  for  the  extending  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer;  and 
especially  their  contrariety  to  the  beneficent  spirit  which  it 
breathes.  The  SAvord  and  the  cross  have  been  displayed  in  unna- 
tural alliance,  in  Avars  professedly  made  for  the  subjecting  of  na- 
tions to  the  sceptre  of  the  Prince  of  Peace.  The  effect  has  been, 
either  the  generating  of  enmity  against  a religion  attempted  to  be 
obtruded  by  violence;  or,  the  establishing  of  the  same  religion  in 
name,  but  disfigured  by  corruptions  subversive  of  the  spirit  of  its 
institutions.  It  was  not  thus  that  the  faith  in  Christ  had  been 
propagated,  when,  Avithin  a few  years  after  the  apostles,  its  apolo- 
gists appealed  to  the  known  fact,  that  independently  on  human 
policy  or  force,  it  had  reached  the  utmost  limits  of  the  then  known 
AA'orld 

Without  the  din  of  Avar  for  the  extension  of  the  Christian  cause, 
there  have  been  settlements  made  in  the  neighbourhoods  of  hea- 
then nations,  apparently  opening  avenues  for  the  entrance  of  the 
truths  of  the  Gospel;  while,  the  object  being  gain  and  the  increase 
of  commei;ce,  there  has  been  inefficiency  as  to  the  other  object, 
which  became  a matter  of  little  or  of  no  concern  Avith  the  settlers. 

Even  Avhen  a mass  of  people,  of  Avhom  a considerable  propor- 
tion AV'ere  consistent  Christians,  have  been  seated  in  like  vicini- 
ties of  the  heathen,  their  position  to  one  another  has  been  such, 
that  the  latter  ha\'e  known  little  of  the  other,  besides  the  vices, 
and  especially  the  frauds  of  those  who  bore  the  name,  and  to 
Avhom,  from  circumstances  connected  AVith  the  arrangement  of 
civil  life,  their  intercourses  Avere  confined.  This  is  especially 
discernible  in  our  OAvn  country;  in  the  relation  in  which,  from 
the  infancy  of  our  settlements,  Ave  have  stood  to  the  Indian  tribes 
on  our  frontier.  For,  although  efforts  have  been  made,  and  not 
altogether  without  efl’ect,  as  Avel'  by  the  Church  of  England  as  by 
other  denominations,  for  the  evangelizing  of  these  tribes,  yet  the 
good  has  been  greatly  overlialanced  by  the  mass  of  vice  generated 
by  our  commercial  communications,  Avhich  our  public  counsels 
have  not  hitherto  been  able  to  regulate  or  to  restrain. 

Of  late  years,  under  very  different  circumstances,  and  gene- 
rally in  a very  different  spirit  from  the  above,  there  have  been 
put  forth  endeavours  for  the  conveying  of  the  Gospel  to  heathen 
nations.  It  has  been  by  presenting  the  books  of  Scripture  in  their 
different  languages;  and  by  sending  to  them  missionaries,  Avhose 
vieAvs  are  detached  from  all  the  concerns,  alike  of  temporal  sove- 
reignties, and  of  spiritual  domination  interfering  Avith  civil  duties; 


7 


and  ivlio  cannot  have  any  otlicr  object,  than  that  of  making  their 
converts  the  subjects  of  “ a kingdom  not  of  this  world,”  Who 
can  calculate  the  effects  of  this  new  plan  for  the  evangelizing  of 
the  world?  And  who  can  tell,  whether  it  may  not  be  the  expe- 
dient in  the  counsels  of  divine  Wisdom,  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise  to  the  Messiah,  of  “ giving  him  the  heathen  for  his  in- 
heritance, and  the  utmost  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  possession?” 
or  of  hastening  the  time,  when,  in  the  language  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, “ the  fulness  of  the  Gentiles  shall  have  come  in.” 

But  why  should  this  be  reckoned  altogether  a problem,  w hen 
there  has  already  begun  and  progressed  a series  of  events,  point- 
ing to  the  consummation  so  desirable?  Already,  the  peaceful 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  has  made  inroads  on  the  superstitions  of 
Bramah  and  ot  Budda  in  Asia.  Already,  in  Africa,  many  of  her 
sable  children  are  assembled  under  pastors,  who  break  to  them 
the  bread  of  life.  And  already  the  uniting  of  religion  and  civiliza- 
tion, has  made  the  beginning  of  a rescue  of  the  inhabitants  of  our 
western  wilderness,  from  the  atrocities  of  their  savage  state;  and 
of  opening  their  eyes  to  a due  esteem  of  the  arts  and  the  enjoy- 
ments of  civilized  life;  under  no  circumstances,  however,  without 
a proportionate  esteem  for  those  truths,  those  precepts,  and  those 
promises,  which  can  be  learned  only  from  the  Bible. 

It  is  a remarkable  fact,  tending  to  sustain  the  sentiments  which 
have  been  delivered,  that  there  has  lately  appeared,  in  various 
countries,  a zeal  for  missionary  labours,  beyond  any  thing  of  the 
same  spirit  since  the  age  of  the  first  preaching  of  the  Gospel. 
Many  and  great  are  the  dangers  to  be  encountered,  and  many  and 
great  are  the  privations  to  be  submitted  to,  in  the  prosecution  of 
such  designs;  and  yet  the  ardour,  far  from  being  damped  by  dis- 
couragement of  this  sort,  is  on  the  increase.  In  the  beginning, 
there  may  have  been  no  unreasonable  apprehensions,  that  the  fire 
woul  l expire  after  a transient  blaze;  but  many  years  have  attested 
not  only  the  sincerity,  but  the  perseverance  of  the  men,  who  had 
thus  devoted  themselves  to  the  going  out  into  the  high-ways  and 
hedges  of  pagan  idolatry,  at  the  cost  of  encountering  any  hard- 
ships, and  of  being  for  ever  separate  in  this  world  from  the  en- 
dearing intercourses  of  kindred  and  early  attachments.  Is  there 
not  in  this  what  may  not  improbably  be  an  indication  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  time,  when  there  shall  be  a verifying  of  the  promise — 
“from  the  rising  of  the  sun,  even  unto  the  going  down  of  the 
same,  my  name  shall  be  great  among  the  Gentiles?” 

Let  it  not  be  imagined,  that  however  deep  our  conviction  of  its 
being  the  duty  of  professing  Christians,  to  contribute  to  the  spread- 
ing of  the  light  of  the  Gospel  over  the  world,  in  proportion  as  op- 
portunitx  may  be  presented  and  means  enable,  we  contemplate  this 
object  in  a severance  from  the  moral  cultivation  of  mankind.  We 
know  what  is  said,  w’ith  truth,  of  the  contrariety  between  faith 


8 


aud  practice,  in  a great  proportion  of  professed  Chi  istiaus,  And 
we  know  what  is  said,  without  truth,  of  the  competency  of  the 
liglil  of  Nature,  to  direct  men  to  the  duties  which  they  owe  to 
one  another,  and  to  the  most  essential  of  those  which  they  owe 
immediately  to  God.  Under  the  former  bead,  the  appeal  may  be 
made  to  a comparison  oi  Christian  states,  the  lowest  in  the  moral 
scale,  with  those  of  heathniism  in  the  highest;  and  under  the  lat- 
ter, to  the  bloody  rites  of  pagan  worship  prevalent  at  the  present 
day.  In  particular,  hiunr.n  sacrifices  offered  to  pretended  gods, 
are  mournful  monuments  how  little  can  be  achieved  by  human 
reason,  for  the  offering  to  God  of  the  honour  due  to  his  great  name; 
further  than  as  that  faculty  has  been  enlightened  by  revelation, 
either  traditionary  from  the  origin  of  our  race,  or  by  communica- 
tions, from  time  to  time,  under  the  influence  of  inspiration.  And, 
if  an  appeal  should  be  made  from  the  condition  of  barbarism,  to 
that  of  the  reign  of  philosophy  and  improvements  in  civil  life,  it 
will  not  detract  from  the  argument,  but  strengthen  it;  since  no 
degree  of  cultivation  has  had  the  least  control  over  the  most  de- 
grading of  the  forms  of  idol  worship,  or  over  the  general  corrup- 
tion of  manners,  by  which,  under  all  circumstances,  it  has  been 
attended. 

From  many  instances  which  might  be  mentioned  of  the  oppo- 
site characters  of  these  different  states  of  society,  we  select  as  one 
of  the  most  prominent,  the  different  estimation  in  which  the  female 
character  is  respectively  held  under  them.  It  is  a fact  too  glaring 
to  be  denied,  that'in  no  country,  either  in  ancient  times  or  in  the 
modern,  where  the  sound  of  the  Gospel  is  not  heard,  is  woman 
placed  in  a grade,  which  renders  her  a rational  companion,  or 
possessed  of  rights  secured  to  her  by  equal  law.  In  this  single 
circumstance,  there  is  a cause  w Inch  has  a material  operation  on 
all  the  concerns  of  mankind,  civil  and  domestic;  and  in  forming 
the  personal  characters  of  all  the  individuals  of  a community,  iu 
their  progress  from  infancy  to  manhood.  It  is,  in  a great  measure, 
the  line  of  discrimination  between  civilized  society  and  barbarism. 
For  the  latter  may  exist,  in  various  degrees,  with  the  cultivation 
of  science  and  of  the  arts;  so  that  where  the  honourable  species  of 
C(piality,  here  rel’erred  to,  is  unknown  or  disregarded,  it  must  be 
to  the  injury  of  all  the  charities  of  social  life. 

For  these  reasons,  we  assign  its  due  importance  to  the  second- 
ary branch  of  the  constitution  of  the  society,  while  we  consider 
the  other  as  its  more  immediate  object.  For  in  comparing  the 
claims  of  the  great  fields  of  labour  within  the  bounds  of  our  fede- 
ral compact,  and  of  those  exterior  to  it,  there  was  felt  the  convic- 
tion of  the  iireponderance  of  the  former,  because  of  the  more  im- 
mediate relation  in  which  they  stand  to  us,  and  because  of  the 
greater  cHiciency  whicli 's  f'k-  ly  to  be  the  result  of  community  of 
language  and  manners;  the  greater  ease  of  perpetuating  the  know- 


9 


ledge  of  revealed  tnith,  where,  although  on  the  decline,  it  is  not 
absolutely  los.  than  where  it  is  to  be  btguii;  and  the  less  expe  nse 
in  the  sending  and  the  maintaining  ot  missionaries  in  the  former 
case,  than  in  the  latter.  Nevertheless,  as  it  appears  that  the  good 
providence  of  God  is  op«  ning  new  pros|)CCts  of  the  bringing  ot 
heathen  people  within  the  pale  of  the  church  of  Christ;  and  as 
pious  persons,  among  ourselves,  have  declareil  their  ardent  wishes 
in  favour  of  an  opening  of  this  channel  for  their  liberality,  the 
Convention  have  complieiJ  with  so  pious  a motion;  at  the  same 
time,  judging  it  a dictate  of  religious  prudence,  to  leave  to  every 
subseriher  to  choose,  if  he  should  entt  rtain  a choice,  between  the 
two  purposes  defined  Accordingly,  this  is  j)rovided  for  by  the 
second  article  of  the  Constitution 

It  mav  contribute  to  the  purpose  of  this  address,  to  refer  to  the 
advantageous  change  made  in  the  Constitution  at  the  late  Con- 
vention. In  the  first  effort  for  the  organizing  of  the  society,  there 
was  the  danger  of  its  wearing  of  the  complexion  of  a local  insti- 
tution, which  would  have  materially  alfected  its  support,  and  its 
operations.  It  was  not  easy  to  avoid  this  imperfection,  because  of 
the  necessity  of  there  being  a local  agency,  ready  to  act,  and 
easily  convoked  on  concerns  requiring  immediate  attention.  By 
improvements  lately  made,  the  evil  is  thought  to  be  guarded 
against.  We  refer  to  the  3d,  5th,  6th,  and  8th  articles  of  the 
Constitution;  which  provide,  that  the  cast  of  character  of  the 
measures  shall  be  given  at  an  annual  meeting,  expected  to  be  at- 
tended by  a respectable  number  of  members  not  resident  at  the 
seat  of  the  meetings  of  the  directors;  that  there  shall  be  a triennial 
meeting,  co-incident  with  every  stated  meeting  of  the  Convention, 
who  may  give  a still  more  derided  cast  to  the  proceedings;  that 
the  appointment  of  missionaries  and  the  formation  of  auxiliary  so- 
cieties, shall  be  at  the  said  annual  meetings;  and  that  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  of  the  several  dioceses  shall  have  the  control 
over  any  missionaries  who  may  be  sent  within  their  respective 
bounds,  and  over  any  sums  of  money  which  may  be  granted  to 
them. 

We  conclude,  in  the  spirit  of  the  conclusion  of  the  Constitution, 
by  inviting  all  the  members  of  our  church  to  put  up  the  prayer 
there  suggested,  for  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  concern  committed 
to  our  trust;  not  doubting  that  the  effect  of  such  a prayer,  habitu- 
allv  put  up  to  the  throne  of  grace,  will  so  interest  the  affections  of 
the  supplicants,  as  to  ensure  their  contributing  of  reasonable  por- 
tions of  their  substance,  for  the  accomplishing  of  so  estimable  an 
object  of  their  desire.  Especially,  if  such  persons  should  have  felt 
the  check  of  the  admonitions  of  the  Gospel  on  their  consciences, 
of  its  consolations  under  the  various  vicissitudes  of  life,  and  of  the 
bright  prospects  which  it  opens  beyond  the  darkness  of  the  gr  >ve; 
they  will  cheerfully  hestow  their  proportionate  aids,  for  the  ex- 


10 


tending  of  those  benefits  to  regions  where  they  are  now  unknown; 
to  the  retaining  of  them  in  districts,  in  which  they  are  in  danger 
of  being  lost  in  an  increasing  dissoluteness  of  manners;  in  short, 
in  contributing  to  the  reign  of  truth  and  righteousness,  and  thus 
leading  on  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  object  of  tbe  petition  en- 
joined on  us  for  daily  use — “ the  doing  of  the  will  of  God  OB 
earth,  as  it  is  done  in  heaven.” 

By  order  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 


WM.  WHITE,  President. 


THE 


CONSTITUTION 


OF  TUfi 

DOMESTIC  AND  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 

OF  THE 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

IN  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 


Art.  I. 

This  institution  shall  be  denominated  the  Domestic  and  Fo- 
reign JMissionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  in 
the  United  States  of  America. 

Art.  II. 

It  shall  be  composed  of  the  bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  and  of  the  members  of  tbe  bouse  of  clerical  and  lay  de- 
puties of  the  General  Convention  of  said  church,  for  the  time 
being;  and  of  such  other  persons,  as  shall  contribute,  by  sub- 
scription, three  dollars,  or  more,  annually  to  the  objects  of  the 
institution,  during  the  continuance  of  such  contributions;  and  of 
such  as  shall  contribute  at  once  thirty  dollars,  which  contribu- 
tion shall  constitute  them  members  for  life. 

■ Members  who  pay  fifty  dollars,  on  subscribing,  shall  be  de- 
nominated patrons  of  the  society. 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  subscribers,  to  designate,  on 
their  subscriptions,  to  which  of  the  objects,  domestic,  or  foreign, 
they  desire  their  contributions  to  be  applied.  If  no  specifica- 
tion be  made,  the  board  of  directors  may  apply  them  to  either, 
or  both,  at  their  discretion. 


Art.  III. 

The  society  shall  meet  triennially,  at  the  place,  in  which  the 
General  Convention,  shall  bold  its  session.  The  time  of  meet- 
ing shall  be  on  tbe  first  day  of  the  session,  at  five  o’clock,  P.  M. 


12 


A sermon  shall  be  preached,  and  a collection  made  in  aid  of 
the  funds  of  the  society,  at  such  time,  during  the  session  of  the 
Convention,  as  may  be  determined  at  the  annual  meeting:  the 
preacher  to  be  appointed  by  the  house  of  bishops. 

Art.  IV. 

The  presiding  bishop  of  this  church,  shall  he  president  of  the 
society;  the  other  bishops,  according  to  seniority,  vice  presidents. 
There  shall  be  two  secretaries,  and  twenty-four  directors,  who 
shall  be  chosen,  by  ballot,  at  each  meeting. 

Art.  V. 

The  directors,  together  with  the  president,  vice  presidents, 
and  patrons  of  the  society — who  shall,  ex  officio,  be  directors — 
shall  compose  a body  to  be  denominated  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  the  Domestic  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Protes- 
tant Episcopal  Church,  in  the  United  States  of  America.  They 
shall  meet  annually  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  except  in  the 
year  of  the  meeting  of  the  General  Convention,  when  they 
shall  assemble  at  the  place  of  the  meeting  thereof.  .ATine  mem- 
bers of  the  board  of  directors  shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a 
quorum  to  do  business. 

The  meetings  of  the  board  of  directors  shall  always  be  opened 
with  using  a form  of  prayer  to  be  set  forth  by  the  house  of  bishops 
for  that  purpose,  or  one  or  more  suitable  prayers  selected  Ifom 
the  liturgy. 

Art.  VI. 

At  the  annual  meetings,  all  missionary  stations  appointments 
of  missionaries,  and  appropriations  of  money,  and  all  by  laws 
necessary  for  their  own  government,  and  for  conducting  the  af- 
fairs of  the  missions,  shall  be  made;  provided,  that  all  appoint- 
ments of  missionarie.s  shall  be  with  the  approbation  of  the  bishops 
present.  Special  meetings  may  be  called  by  the  president,  or 
by  one  of  the  vice  presidents,  as  often  as  may  be  necessary  to  car- 
ry into  elTect,  the  resolutions  adopted  at  the  annual  meetings  of 
the  board;  at  which  special  meetings,  seren  members,  including 
the  president  or  one  of  the  vice  presidents,  shall  be  a quorum  to 
transact  business. 

The  boanl  of  directors,  whether  at  their  annual  or  special 
meetings,  may  appoint  such  committees  as  may  be  necessary  or 
useful. 


18 


Art.  VII. 

There  shall  be  annually  appointed  a treasurer  and  two  mem- 
bers of  the  society,  who  together  shall  be  termed  trustees  of  the 
perninent  fund. 

The  treasurer  shall  receive  all  contributions  which  shall  be 
made  to  the  societ),  and  enter  them  in  detail,  distinguishing  be- 
tween what  may  be  contributed  for  domestic,  and  wluit  for  foreign 
purposes,  if  any  such  distinction  should  be  made;  and  present  a 
statement  of  his  accounts  annually,  or  oftener,  if  required,  to 
the  board  of  directors.  He  shall  not  pay  monies  unless  on  an 
order  from  the  board,  signed  by  the  president,  or  in  his  absence, 
by  the  senior  vice  president,  who  may  attend  the  meeting,  when 
such  order  is  given. 

Twenty  per  cent,  of  all  monies,  which  shall  be  contributed,  to 
carry  into  effect  the  objects  of  the  institution,  shall  be  vested  by 
the  trustees,  in  their  own  name,  as  officers  of  the  society,, in  some 
safe  and  productive  stock,  to  constitute  a permanent  fund.  The 
residue  of  the  contributions,  with  the  interest  arising  from  the 
permanent  fund,  shall  be  appropriated  to  the  objects,  for  which 
the  society  was  formed. 

Art.  VIII. 

The  board  of  directors,  at  their  annual  meetings,  shall  take 
such  measures  as  they  may  deem  proper,  to  establish  auxiliary 
societies  in  any  diocess,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  bishop 
of  the  same;  to  secure  patronage,  and  to  enlarge  the  funds  of  the 
institution.  The  bishop  of  every  diocess  shall  be  president  of 
the  auxiliary  societies  organized  wdthin  it. 

Art.  IX. 

In  any  diocess  or  district  where  there  is  a bishop  or  an  eccle- 
siastical body  duly  constituted  under  the  authority  of  the  conven- 
tion of  the  same  for  missionary  purposes,  aid  may  be  given  in 
money;  but  the  appointment  of  the  missionary  shall  rest  with  the 
bishop  or  ecclesiastical  body  aforesaid.  He  shall  act  under  their 
direction;  and  shall  render  to  them  a report  of  his  proceedings, 
copies  of  which  shall  be  forwarded  to  this  society. 

Art.  X. 

The  board  of  directors  shall,  at  every  meeting  of  the  society, 
present  a detailed  report  of  their  proceedings;  which,  if  approved 
and  adopted  by  the  society,  shall,  on  the  next  day,  be  presented 
by  their  president,  to  the  General  Convention,  as  the  report  of  the 
society. 


14 


Art.  XI. 

The  present  convention  shall  elect,  by  ballot,  the  twenty-four 
directors  and  the  two  secetaries,  provided  for  by  the  4th  article, 
to  act  till  the  first  stated  meeting  of  the  society;  and  the  first  meet- 
ing of  the  board  of  directors  shall  take  place  at  Philadelphia,  on 
the  third  Wednesday  in  November  instant. 

Art.  XII. 

It  is  recommended  to  every  member  of  society,  to  pray  to  Al- 
mighty God,  for  his  blessing  upon  its  designs,  under  the  full  con- 
viction, that  unless  he  direct  us  in  all  our  doings,  with  his  most 
gracious  favour,  and  further  us,  with  his  continual  help,  we  can- 
no  treasonably  hope,  either  to  procure  suitable  persons  to  act  as 
missionaries,  or  expect  that  their  endeavours  will  be  successful. 


ERRATA. 


Page  3,  line  6,  for  “ these”  read  “ there”. 

13,  line  3,  read  “permanent”. 

14,  Art.  12th,  first  line,  read  “of  this  Society”. 

15,  read  “Alexander  Viets  Griswold”, 
do.  “ Christian  Hanckell”. 

i^^dditional  Patrom  and  Directors  for  life. 

Rt.  Rev.  William  White,  D.D. 

Rev.  John  P.  K.  Henshaw, 

Hon.  John  C.  Herbert, 

Rev.  William  Richmond, 

Kthan  Andrus,  Esq. 


16 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


Right  Rev. 


Right  Rev. 
Right  Rev. 
Right  Rev, 
Right  Rev. 
Right  Rev, 
Right  Rev. 
Right  Rev. 
Right  Rev. 


President. 

William  White,  D.D. 

Vice  Presidents. 

John  Henry  Hobart,  D.D. 
Alexander  Victs  Griswold,  D.D. 
Richard  Channing  Moore,  D.D. 
James  Kemp,  D.D. 

John  Croes,  D.D. 

Nathaniel  Bowen.  D.D. 
Philander  Chase,  D.D. 

Thomas  C.  Brownell,  D.D. 

Secretaries. 


Rev.  George  Boyd,  Samuel  J.  Robbins. 


Directors. 

Pennsylvania.  Rev.  Jackson  Kemper,  Rev.  James  Montgome- 
ry, Rev.  Benjamin  Allen,  Messrs.  Richard  North,  Richard  Dale, 
Thomas  Hale,  John  Claxton,  Charles  Wheeler,  Israel  Kinsman, 
Hugh  de  Haven,  jun.  James  Nixon. 

Delaware.  Rev,  Richard  D,  Hall. 

JSIaryland.  Rev,  Dr.  Wyatt,  Rev.  J.  P.  K.  Henshaw. 
Virginia.  Rev.  Dr.  Wilmer,  Rev.  Wm.  Meade. 

JVbr</i  Carolina.  Rev.  G.  T.  Bedell. 

South  Carolina.  Rev,  Christian  Hanekell,  Lewis  L,  Gibbes. 
JSTew  Jersey.  Rev.  Abiel  Carter. 

AeiP  York.  Rev.  Dr.  Mil  nor,  Rev.  B.  T.  Onderdonk. 

Rhode  Island.  Rev.  Salmon  Wheaton. 

Massachusetts.  Rev.  Thomas  Carlile. 


Patrons  and  Directors  for  life. 
Rev.  George  Boyd,  Rev.  Manning  B.  Roche. 

Treasurer. 

Thomas  Hale.* 


Trustees  of  the  permanent  fund. 
Thomas  Hale,  John  Read  and  Charles  N.  Bancker. 


* Address  of  the  Treasurer,  Thomas  Hale,  Jfo.  83  Chesnut  st.  Philadelphia. 


16 


V 


FORM  OF  A BEQUEST. 

I give  and  bequeath  to  (naming  the  Treasurer  of  the  Society) 
in  trust  for  the  use  and  purposes  of  the  “Domestic  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  of  America.” 

Annual  Meetings  of  the  Board  of  Directors  on  the  Thursday 
following  the  third  Tuesday  in  May. 


I 


I 


